News Roundup 29June 2023
Jun 29, 2023 • 4 min Read
Lawmaker seeks support for proposal to bring WPS row to UN | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday called on Senate to support a proposal seeking to raise before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) China’s aggressive behavior in West Philippine Sea.
The lawmaker is referring to the recommendation of retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio.
For this reason, she filed a Senate resolution that urged Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to sponsor a separate resolution.
The proposed resolution will entail the DFA asking UNGA to compel China to stop harassing Philippine vessels that are within Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Hontiveros also renewed the call for members of United Nations, especially China, to recognize and respect the historic arbitral decision.
She is pointing to the ruling of Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands on July 12, 2016 that invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over South China Sea.
“The least all of us in government can do is to exhaust all legal, political, and diplomatic means to safeguard our sovereignty,” she said.
“The UNGA vote is one way to do it, and I hope we can truly unite and rally behind this cause,” she added.
Bantag’s case archived pending arrest over Bilibid inmate’s death | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines – A Muntinlupa City court has archived the case against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy, Ricardo Zulueta, pending their arrest for the killing of Bilibid inmate Jun Villamor, the middleman for the death of broadcaster Percival Mabasa or Percy Lapid.
In an order dated June 27, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 206 Judge Gener Gito said the archiving of the case will be revived upon their arrest.
“Considering that the other accused in this case, accused Director General Gerald Bantag and Senior Superintendent Ricardo Zulueta not yet arrested, let this case be sent to the archive subject to revival upon the arrest of said accused,” Gito’s seven-page order said.
Full Story at: Bantag’s case archived pending arrest over Bilibid inmate’s death | Inquirer News
SC rejects Makati’s attempt to file 2nd motion for reconsideration in Fort Bonifacio land row | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has rejected the Makati city government’s move to be allowed to file a second motion for reconsideration on the tribunal’s ruling on its territorial dispute with Taguig.
In a statement, the SC Public Information Office said the tribunal’s Special Third Division issued a resolution on June 26 denying Makati City’s second Omnibus Motion, which sought the Court’s leave to file and admit its second Motion for Reconsideration.
“A second motion for reconsideration is generally prohibited under the Rules of Court,” the statement read.
The SC Division “noted without action” Makati City’s second motion for reconsideration that challenged the Court’s ruling dated Dec. 1, 2021 where the tribunal found that Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation—the site of lifestyle hub and financial center Bonifacio Global City—is within Taguig City.
The Taguig city government last April said that it welcomes the decision of the SC ruling with finality on the territory dispute. The high court affirmed the Pasig Regional Trial Court’s ruling siding with Taguig and denied Makati’s petition for review on certiorari.
Full Story at: SC rejects Makati’s attempt to file 2nd motion for reconsideration in Fort Bonifacio land row | Philstar.com
Philippines to end search for missing crew of sunken boat off Davao Oriental waters | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday it would end a week-long search for six missing crew members of a fishing boat that sank in bad weather in the country’s eastern waters.
The Genesis 2 sank 337 kilometres (209 miles) east of the southern island of Mindanao on June 22. Fourteen crew members were rescued and the bodies of three others were recovered, said local coast guard official Lieutenant Junior Grade Elmar Mesina.
“There’s only a low possibility of locating more survivors,” said Mesina, the coast guard station chief in Davao Oriental province, when asked by AFP if the six were presumed dead.
Full Story at: Philippines to end search for missing crew of sunken boat off Davao Oriental waters | Philstar.com
